Vacuum cleaner nozzle



P 10, 1957 A. HAKANSON VACUUM CLEANER NOZZLE Filed Nov. I50, 1953INVENTOR. ALFRED HAKA NSON AT TORNE Y United States Patent VACUUMCLEANER NOZZLE.

Alfred Hakanson, San Gabriel, Calif. Application November 30, 1953,Serial No. 394,951 6 Claims. (Cl. -400) This invention relates to vacuumcleaners and particularly to a suction attachment for application inrestricted or confined areas.

Vacuum cleaning under low objects such as divans and other overstuffedfurniture pieces has never been eilicient or convenient either becauseeffective attachments of appropriate dimensions were not available, orbecause attachments were not capable of cleaning the rear areas underwide objects.

The attachment of the invention achieves efficient cleaning of suchareas because its unique design results in a minimum height and greatmobility.

The vacuum cleaner attachment of the invention comprises a rectangularbody in the form of a long and flat rectangular parallelepiped having atop and bottom surface defined by its length and width, a front and aback side surface defined by its length and height, two end surfacesdefined by its width and height. The body has a central horizontalprojection having the same vertical dimension as the body. Theprojection defines a suction throat of approximately rectangularvertical cross-section, The body includes a pair of oppositely extendingsuction channels opening into the throat.

The term: approximately rectangular vertical cross section includesthose cross-sectional shapes having one dimension that is appreciablygreater than the opposite dimension, and includes a rectangle withrounded corners. In the attachment of the invention the largest of thedimensions is in the horizontal plane.

The configuration of the suction throat permits use of connecting meansbetween the throat and the suction end of a vacuum cleaner that givesthe attachment full cleaning range under low objects of more thanaverage width.

Preferably the connecting means comprises a long tube that, for most ofits length beginning at the end that fits tightly into the suctionthroat of the attachment, has a cross-section approximating that of thethroat. Near its other end the tube curves upwardly and flares out toform a socket providing for connection to a vacuum cleaner extensiontube.

The advantages of the invention will be more clearly understood byreference to the following detailed description and drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a preferred form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 1; and

Pig. 3 is a partial sectional view of the assembled tube and attachment,taken along line 33 of Fig. 1.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the vacuum cleaner attachment has arectangular body 10 which may, for example, have a vertical thickness ofapproximately one-half inch or less. The body has a horizontalprojection 11 that is located at the approximate midpoint of a long side12 of the body. The projection has the same vertical thickness as thebody and defines a substantially rectangular suction throat 13 that hasrounded side walls 14, 15.

Patented Sept. 10, 1957 The suction throat extends at right angles tothe long side 12 of the body, and as is apparent from the drawings, thesuction throat effectively surrounds or defines an opening through theside 12 of the body to which a pair of channels 16, 17 communicate.

A pair of channels 16, 17 are formed in the body opening at the lowerface thereof and together extending substantially the entire length ofthe body. The channels curve rearwardly at 18, 19 to meet the suctionthroat at the central portion of the body, the curved portions of thechannels being defined by a divider section 21 of the body.

Since the greatest suction effect normally would be at the throat entry13A, the division of the suction channels increases the efficiency ofthe attachment. The divider 21 tends to restrict the suction-induced airflow in this area so that there is a compensating increase in air flowfrom the outward portions of the channels.

Bottom Wall 22 of the throat has a terminating edge 23 at the junctureof the throat with the channels. The outer surface of wall 22 is in thesame plane as the smooth rim 24 surrounding the suction channels.

A brush 25 is mounted in a groove 26 that extends across a forwardportion 27 of the body and substantially parallel to the reach ofchannels 16, 17. The forward portion of the body has a lesser verticaldimension than the rest of the body and a rounding rim 23 is provided onthe lower leading edge. A keeper 29 is recessed into the body forholding the brush in the groove.

The utility of the above described attachment is increased when it isused in conjunction with a cooperating connecting tube 30. Fig. 3illustrates the assembly of the two elements. The cross-sectionalconfiguration of one end 32 of the tube is shown by broken line 31 inFig. l. The end 32 of the tube has an outer configuration similar insize and shape to the throat 13 so that a tight seal exists when the twoare mated.

The tube retains this outer configuration through a straight shankportion 33 and through a curved portion 34. The curve gives an upwardtilt of approximately thirty degrees to the tube and leads into a flaredsocket 35 displaced sufiiciently from the floor to prevent its greatervertical dimension from tilting the tube and attachment. Socket 35 mayconveniently be connected to a tapered metal end of a flexible hose of aconventional vacuum cleaner (not shown).

The tube is long enough to propel the attachment under low objects intothose rear areas that could not heretofore be reached conveniently byefficient cleaning attachments.

The tube has a roller 36 at its upwardly curving portion to lessen thefriction between floor and tube and to stabilize the approach angle ofthe attachment. The roller is preferred for these reasons but is notnecessary to the operation of the invention.

In operation the illustrated attachment is attached to the end of aconventional suction cleaner extension hose as by means of the describedconnecting tube. Because of its novel design and consequent relativelysmall vertical dimension, the attachment is readily projected intoconfined spaces heretofore virtually inaccessible to conventionalcleaning equipment. Effective cleaning air flow is insured throughoutthe comparatively wide reach of the attachment by the construction ofthe air channels therein and as previously described. The attachment ispassed over the area to be cleaned either by manipulation of theconnecting tube or the adjacent hose with the brush acting in the usualmanner to increase the effectiveness of the suction cleaning.

I claim:

1. A vacuum cleaner attachment comprising a suction head in the form ofa flat and elongated rectangular body having a closed top and having apair of oppositely extending channels which open through the bottom ofthe body throughout their length, the body also having an openingthrough one of its sides to which the channels communicate, the openingbeing located at a position about midway along the length of the body, athroat connected to the body for coupling the suction head to a vacuumcleaner, the throat abutting against the side of the body andsurrounding said opening with the height and upper surface of the throatbeing substantially the same as those of the body, and a dividersubstantially separating the two channels where they enter said opening,the divider providing a restriction in the suction head to restrict thesuction-induced flow of air in the portions of the two channels whichare adjacent the opening.

2. A vacuum cleaner attachment comprising a suction head in the form ofa flat and elongated rectangular body having a closed top and having apair of oppositely extending channels of approximately uniform size andwhich open through the bottom of the body throughout their length, thebody also having an opening through one of its sides to which thechannels communicate, the opening being located at a position aboutmidway along the length of the body, a fiat tubular throat connected tothe body, the throat abutting against the side of the body andsurrounding said opening with the height and upper surface of the throatbeing substantially the same as those of the body, a dividersubstantially separating the two channels where they enter said opening,the divider providing a restriction in the suction head to restrict thesuction-induced How of air in the portions of the two channels which areadjacent the opening, and means for detachably connecting the throat tothe suction end of a vacuum cleaner.

3. The apparatus described in claim 2 wherein the connecting meanscomprises a long, substantially straight flat tube, one end of the tubebeing accommodated by the throat and the other end of the tube curvingupward and flaring out into a cylinder for accommodating the suctiontube from a vacuum cleaner.

4. A vacuum cleaner attachment comprising a suction head in the form ofa flat and elongated rectangular body having a closed top and having apair of oppositely extending channels which open through the bottom ofthe body throughout their length, the body also having an openingthrough one of its sides to which the channels communicate, the openingbeing located at a position about midway along the length of the body, athroat connected to the body for coupling the suction head to a vacuumcleaner, the throat abutting against the side of the body andsurrounding said opening with the height and upper surface of the throatbeing substantially the same as those of the body, arating the twochannels where they enter said opening, the divider providing arestriction in the suction head and defining concave surfaces along eachchannel with the respective concave surfaces being disposed back to backat said opening to cause the two channels to be of approximately uniformsize throughout their length.

and divider means substantially sep I ill) 5. A vacuum cleanerattachment comprising a suction rectangular parallelepiped, the suctionhead having a top head shaped approximately in the form of a long andflat and a bottom surface defined by its length and width, a front sideand a back side surface defined by its length and height, and two endsurfaces defined by its width and height, the top, front side and twoend surfaces being closed, the bottom surface having two oppositelyextending suction channels which are open throughout their length, theback side surface having an opening located about midway along itslength to which the suction channels communicate, a throat surroundingsaid opening through the back side surface and projecting from the backside surface for coupling the suction head to a vacuum cleaner, thethroat having a height and an upper surface which are substantially anextension of those of the suction head, and a divider centrally locatedwith respect to said opening for separating the two channels at theirentry into said opening and providing a restriction in the head torestrict the suction-induced flow of air in the portions of the twochannels which are adjacent said opening.

6. A vacuum cleaner attachment comprising a suction head shapedapproximately in the form of a long and fiat rectangular parallelepiped,the suction head having a top and a bottom surface defined by its lengthand Width, a front side and a back side surface defined by its lengthand height, and two end surfaces defined by its width and height, thetop, front side and two end surfaces being closed, the bottom surfacehaving two oppositely extending suction channels which are openthroughout their length, the back side surface having an opening locatedabout midway along its length to which the suction channels communicate,a throat surrounding said opening through the back side surface andprojecting (from the back side surface for coupling the suction head toa vacu um cleaner, the throat having a height and an upper surface whichare substantially an extension of those of the suction head, a dividercentrally located with respect to said opening for separating the twochannels at their entry into said opening, the divider providing arestriction in the suction head and defining concave surfaces along eachchannel with the respective concave surfaces being disposed back to backat the opening so that the divider restricts the suction-induced flow ofair adjacent the opening, and a brush in the form of a row of bristlesdisposed along the length of the bottom surface near the front sidesurface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,782,882 Rippey Nov. 25, 1930 2,101,222 McCracken Dec. 7, 19372,255,271 Rast Sept. 9, 1941 2,283,428 Ellis May 19, 1942 2,624,061 LeasJan. 6, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 462,997 Germany July 19, 1928 308,257 GreatBritain Oct. 17, 1929

